When murder comes home to roost

This past October I attended the Write on the Sound conference in Edmonds. One of my favorite presentations was co-led by Judy Dailey, author of "Animal, Vegetable, Murder."

I'm not normally a mystery buff, but this was definitely a fun read. "Animal, Vegetable, Murder" is extremely witty and nails Seattle in all its eco-friendly glory.

The plot revolves around 30-year-old urban farmer Sunny Day whose chicken tending is interrupted by a dead body she finds in her backyard. Every last techie and yuppie in her neighborhood is a suspect, including the president of the overbearing homeowners association who can't stand Sunny's rain barrels.

As somebody who continues to suffer from chicken-coop envy, I immediately related to the protagonist. Maybe next year I'll be brave enough to turn our powder room into a brooding sanctuary for young chicks…

Then again, who am I kidding? I'm no Sunny Day. Helping my kids raise our pet Beta, Princess Rip-jaws, is about all I can handle.

"Animal, Vegetable, Murder" is available at your local library. For more information about Judy Dailey, please check out her website.

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